International Journal for Religious Freedom

The International Journal for Religious Freedom (IJRF) is the journal of the International Institute for Religious Freedom (IIRF). It is published bi-annually and aims to provide a platform for scholarly discourse on the issue of religious freedom in general and the persecution of Christians in particular. It is an interdisciplinary, international, peer reviewed, scholarly journal, serving the practical interests of religious freedom and contains research articles, documentation, book reviews and academic news on the issue. The editors welcome the submission of any item that could contribute to the journal.Manuscripts submitted for publication are assessed by a panel of referees and the decision to publish is dependent on these referees' reports.

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This biography helps, among others, to remember somewhat forgotten superlatives. According to the biographer, John Bunyan's best known allegory of the Christian life, The Pilgrim's Progress, is still the world's second most published book after the Bible. In any case, it is one of the acknowledged classics of English literature. It is hardly surprising, then, that its 17th century Nonconformist writer can be labeled as "one of the most influential Christians of all time" (p. 64). Furthermore, the story of Bunyan's life embodies the struggle for religious freedom and the willingness to bear persecution for Christ's sake in an ideal-typical way. This pioneer for freedom of worship spent more than twelve years in prison for unlicensed preaching and continued to preach with the pen. Some of his greatest works originated in Bedford county jail where he was allowed only a Bible and Foxe's Book of Martyrs.

In the preface to the book, a friend of the Russian human rights activist Alexander Ogorodnikov Lord David Alton says that the life story of this man is a testimony of his exceptional courage and self-sacrifice, and that it is our responsibility to share it with all the future generations. The author of the book looked at that task as his mission. He wrote a truly heroic saga about a man who not only fought the Soviet regime but also defended other people.

This provocative book contrasts "common-sense" religious liberty against "extreme" religious liberty within the United States. The notion of extreme religious liberty is espoused by documented stories of, amongst others, clergy sex abuse and the refusal of companies to do business with same-sex couples. For example, the classic and much contested argument, where racism is equated with homophobia, is used to describe the refusal of companies to do business with same-sex couples. For the author "this is as extreme as religious liberty get" (231). Based on such examples, the purpose of the book is made clear - a call "for a return to commonsense religious liberty" (i). However, no criteria are provided for determining what "common-sense" and "extreme" entails.

This book is comprised of a plethora of topics pertaining to the nexus of religion, politics and the law. Part 1 of the book begins with two chapters on foundational concerns. First, the return of political theology (such theology being understood as 'a doctrine that legitimates public authority, and the institutions that exercise it, on the basis of a divine revelation') is discussed. Secondly, the need to transcend the authority ascribed to 'reason' or 'revelation' through strategies directed towards the interpretation of religions(in the context of a richer diversity in the ways of speaking about God) is addressed. These concerns present insights related to political theology in the past, its presence in contemporary societies (alongside that of political discourse) and the renewal of political theology from within religion itself. Furthermore, the understanding that appeals to reason or revelation first needs to be interpreted in ways that promote free and responsible existence if they are to claim the right to order social existence. Although limited in elaboration at times, these foundational concerns contribute to the debate on the inclusion and relevance of religion in the public sphere and society in general.

This book compares and contrasts histories, theories and structures for religion and religious freedom in three very different countries : Switzerland, the United States and Syria. It was originally a doctoral dissertation. This is both its strength and its weakness. It is a strength in that it is carefully researched and documented. It is a weakness in that it is structured like a thesis and involves subjects that would not normally be considered together.

Allen Hertzke's edited volume The Future of Religious Freedom : Global Challenges comes at a moment in time when assaults on religious liberty are sharply rising. Millions of people around the world are subjected to harassment, intimidation, or violence because of their religious beliefs, or those of their persecutors. Against this backdrop, the 15 contributors to this volume seek to address the status of religious freedom in the world today, barriers to its realization, moral and political implications of religious restrictions, and ways to create societies respectful of religious liberty.